Peterborough, Ontario Hiring guide
Peterborough Firefighter Recruitment: Requirements, Testing & Salary
Plan your Peterborough firefighter application: OFAI and swim testing, required qualifications, salary, and the details worth sorting out before recruitment opens.
Aptitude test
FACT through OFAI Stage OnePeterborough’s 2026 recruitment required OFAI certification. Stage One is the Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT). Confirm the next posting’s requirements before booking.
Department size
3 fire stations
Serving Peterborough
Operations firefighter recruitment
No active postings on our boardBoard listings update from our recruitment dashboard; they may not include every City opening.
Last official-source review: November 4, 2026 · Closed — City careers page. This review is separate from board availability.
How to become a Peterborough firefighter
- 1
Check your certificate dates
Put all OFAI results and renewals on one calendar. Leave room for appointments and retests before a future deadline.
- 2
Sort out the less obvious documents
Peterborough’s last posting included a boating qualification and specific first aid/BLS wording. Check those alongside your DZ and NFPA credentials.
- 3
Prepare examples, not a script
Build a short set of real examples showing teamwork, sound judgment and learning from mistakes. Practise explaining what you did and why.
The department at a glance
Peterborough Fire Services hires career firefighters through City competitions rather than a year-round intake. The City currently lists probationary firefighter recruitment as closed. Its 2026 competition required OFAI testing and swimming, alongside fire service certifications and a DZ licence. This guide explains what to prepare now and what to recheck when the next posting appears.
More than firefighting
Peterborough operates three staffed fire stations and a non-staffed airport station. Crews train for medical calls, water and ice rescue, rope rescue, confined spaces and airport operations. The City describes training twice daily, combining practical scenarios, classroom work and visits to local buildings. Being comfortable learning new skills is part of the job.
Pay & working pattern
Fire Fighter I / first class — July 2024 base · $110,432 per year
Effective July 1, 2024
The filed 2020–24 agreement lists $110,432 annually for Fire Fighter I and $60,738 for a suppression recruit from July 1, 2024 (Article 16, page 24). These are dated base rates, not a verified 2026 wage settlement. Overtime, recognition pay and other allowances are excluded. The 2026 advertisement stated pay was as per the collective agreement.
The archived 2026 posting described 24-hour shifts, including weekends and holidays. Ask about the current rotation, recruit training schedule and probation terms when they are provided; a 24-hour shift does not by itself tell you the full work cycle.
Minimum qualifications
The list below draws on the archived September 2026 posting. The original job page is no longer available, so use these requirements to plan ahead and compare them with the next official advertisement.
- 01Work eligibility and education
- Legal entitlement to work in Canada and Grade 12 or an accepted equivalent.
- 02NFPA qualifications
- NFPA 1001 Firefighter I and II, plus NFPA 472/1072 hazardous materials Operations or an accepted updated equivalent.
- 03OFAI certification and swimming
- The 2026 intake required Stages One, Two and Three, plus the OFAI swim assessment. Recheck validity rules in the next posting.
- 04DZ licence and driving record
- DZ was required when applying. The archived posting set demerit limits: no more than four from one violation or five in total. Licence and abstract evidence were requested at offer.
- 05First aid and medical response
- The last posting specified Standard First Aid with Basic Life Support or Health Care Provider certification. Do not assume any CPR course satisfies that wording.
- 06Boating qualification
- The archived advertisement used “Pleasure Craft License.” Confirm the exact accepted operator credential with the City; a boat’s vessel licence and an operator’s competency card are different documents.
- 07Communication and employment checks
- English proficiency, a satisfactory criminal record check, vision to NFPA 1582 and hearing to OFAI standards were listed. Follow current instructions for evidence and timing.
What strengthens your application
The reviewed material does not provide a separate scored asset list. These are useful ways to strengthen your application, rather than additional minimum qualifications.
Show what you have done
For work, volunteering or training, state your responsibilities and give examples you can discuss in an interview. Avoid a list of broad claims such as being a team player.
Understand the local work
Learn about Peterborough’s water and ice rescue, technical rescue and airport responsibilities. Be ready to explain why this department interests you beyond wanting a firefighter job.
Aptitude & physical testing
The 2026 recruitment required OFAI Stages One through Three plus the OFAI swim assessment, now labelled Stage Four. Plan the whole package: a written-test pass alone does not meet the full testing requirement.
FACT aptitude and character testing
Use OFAI’s current candidate information to understand the assessment. For practice, work on accuracy first, then timed sets, and review the reason behind each mistake.
Hearing, vision and treadmill assessments
Check OFAI’s appointment and medical paperwork requirements before booking. Keep the certificates and expiry dates together so you can compare them with a City deadline.
Physical aptitude and technical skills
Prepare for both job-related physical work and technical tasks. Read the official assessment guides before training; fitness alone does not cover every component.
OFAI swim assessment
Peterborough’s 2026 intake also required the swim test. Practise regularly and check the current official protocol. Do not substitute a different swim certificate unless the City expressly accepts it.
Written test preparation
Prepare for the FACT before test day
Practise under timed conditions, review mistakes and spend extra time on the question types that slow you down. Firefighter Academy offers independent practice material; it does not provide OFAI certification.
Explore FACT practice testsThe recruitment process
Peterborough does not publish a complete firefighter-specific interview and assessment sequence on its standing recruitment page. The steps below are an application plan, not a promised order of City selection stages.
- 1
Before recruitment opens
Complete qualifications that take time.
Build a document folder, track renewals and budget for assessment fees, travel and any time off work. Avoid paying for tests so early that they expire before you can use them.
- 2
When a competition opens
Read the new posting from start to finish.
Compare every requirement with your documents. In 2026, applicants were asked for two attachments: a cover letter, then a combined résumé and OFAI CTS certificate. Follow the next posting’s format rather than reusing that instruction automatically.
- 3
After you apply
Keep your application and watch for invitations.
Save a copy of what you submitted. Prepare specific interview examples, check email and spam folders, and be available for the City’s scheduled steps. No MMI format or fixed number of interviews was verified.
- 4
If you receive an offer
Supply the requested evidence and review the conditions.
The archived posting requested licence/abstract evidence and a clear criminal reference check at this point. Confirm any medical, document or training requirements in your offer before making arrangements.
Your application checklist
Use this preparation checklist alongside the current posting. Checking an item does not confirm eligibility.
Get notified when Peterborough hiring opens
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Common questions
Guidance for Peterborough applicants. Confirm details with the referenced official sources and current posting.
Is Peterborough recruiting firefighters now?
The City careers page lists probationary firefighter recruitment as closed. The last reviewed competition closed September 30, 2026. A next opening date has not been announced in the reviewed sources.
Does Peterborough use the FACT?
Its 2026 intake required OFAI certification, including Stage One, which is the FACT. Check the next official posting before booking or assuming the same package will apply.
Is the OFAI swim test required?
Yes, it was required in the 2026 recruitment alongside Stages One through Three. Swimming is now labelled OFAI Stage Four.
What does a Peterborough firefighter earn?
The filed agreement lists a July 2024 first-class base of $110,432 and a suppression recruit rate of $60,738 annually. Those figures are historical; a newer 2026 wage rate was not verified. They exclude overtime and other additional pay.
Is this the City or Peterborough County?
This guide covers career recruitment with the City of Peterborough Fire Services. Fire services in Peterborough County’s surrounding townships have their own recruitment arrangements.
How often does Peterborough hire?
The City describes firefighter competitions as taking place every few years, when positions are available. That is not a fixed schedule or a promise of an annual intake. Check the City careers page rather than relying on a projected hiring month.
What should I work on while recruitment is closed?
Check your qualifications and certificate dates first. Maintain swimming and job-related fitness, practise aptitude questions and build interview examples from real experience. When the posting arrives, spend time checking your documents against it before submitting.
Go straight to the source
Reviewed against official Peterborough sources on November 4, 2026. Requirements, certificate validity and intake dates can change.
Independent guide from Firefighter Academy, not affiliated with Peterborough Fire Services, the City or OFAI. The current official posting and candidate instructions take priority. Historical requirements and pay are labelled with their source dates.
Your next step
Plan your application to Peterborough Fire Services
Confirm the City’s current requirements and application dates. Preparing for the written test? Start with independent practice.
Browse recruitment postings